Seen through the eyes of a young 20 year old Infantryman located in Chowkay Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan manning a VPB. For those of you that have the map that I do, that would be the Valley of number 11. Alex was speaking with a young 1st Lt about things in general like Ranger school and how he wanted to get accepted to the course once he finishes his deployment. He and Alex has had many conversations on this topic and Lt. Hall has always had words of encouragement. Alex told me that he has always felt comfortable speaking with this young man.
After their conversation Alex wondered up to a Humvee where a friend of his was pulling over watch duty. Alex climbed up next to the gunners turret. It was a sweltering day so they both left their personal armour off. "Dad you are going to be mad because I didn't have it on, I know" the heat is crazy here. So when we were talking I heard a very familiar sound except that it sounded we were on the receiving end of it. All of a sudden an 107mm round goes off about 5 meters away. I rolled off the Humvee and Bea lined it to my hooch to get my armour on and then up to the Mortar pit all the while rounds and small arms fire hitting us from several directions. "I think they were attacking from three sides" I was running to the pit and I noticed that the ammo bunker had collapsed and there was no way were going to get suppressive fire down range unless we excavated the rounds from under all the sand bags. I looked around for help but everyone was either returning small arms or were in bunkers. I knew I needed to get the mortar rounds uncovered so I ran to the collapsed bunker and started to toss sand bags while the 107mm were raining down everywhere. I just knew we needed those rounds in order to lay down suppressive fire. "It was crazy Dad, all that mayhem" I finally was able to get the rounds exposed and hang a round. Now the whoosh was on my side of the battle line and started hearing a lull in the incoming.
When the smoke cleared and the small arms dwindled, I looked around at the VPB and I saw a group of men around one of our men. When I was able to go over to that spot and see who it was, it was of the young 1st Lt. that I felt very comfortable talking too. "That was the hardest part of the attack Dad, seeing someone that I feel I bonded with gone" May the lord watch over this young man.
It was very tough and Alex"s fire team leader pulled Alex aside asking if he was ok? Alex stated he was but that this attack really freaked him out. His leader told him to keep it together and stay tight that he was needed. Alex did and was recommended for the Bronze Star Medal . Alex mentioned that the snipers attached to his team helped greatly. They supplied direction and range.
As many of you know, I have been away on a cruise and was not able to update the blog. I just spent an hour or so doing just that. It was all on K.I.A's the brigade has suffered. It was very difficult to do, so many. I can't say how much I feel for you all. I can only imagine what you feel. May all our soldier makes it home in whole as well as mind and spirit.
A Fathers Love
Larry Arnone
AKA Bluestardad ( I want to keep it that way)
San Francisco, Ca
After their conversation Alex wondered up to a Humvee where a friend of his was pulling over watch duty. Alex climbed up next to the gunners turret. It was a sweltering day so they both left their personal armour off. "Dad you are going to be mad because I didn't have it on, I know" the heat is crazy here. So when we were talking I heard a very familiar sound except that it sounded we were on the receiving end of it. All of a sudden an 107mm round goes off about 5 meters away. I rolled off the Humvee and Bea lined it to my hooch to get my armour on and then up to the Mortar pit all the while rounds and small arms fire hitting us from several directions. "I think they were attacking from three sides" I was running to the pit and I noticed that the ammo bunker had collapsed and there was no way were going to get suppressive fire down range unless we excavated the rounds from under all the sand bags. I looked around for help but everyone was either returning small arms or were in bunkers. I knew I needed to get the mortar rounds uncovered so I ran to the collapsed bunker and started to toss sand bags while the 107mm were raining down everywhere. I just knew we needed those rounds in order to lay down suppressive fire. "It was crazy Dad, all that mayhem" I finally was able to get the rounds exposed and hang a round. Now the whoosh was on my side of the battle line and started hearing a lull in the incoming.
When the smoke cleared and the small arms dwindled, I looked around at the VPB and I saw a group of men around one of our men. When I was able to go over to that spot and see who it was, it was of the young 1st Lt. that I felt very comfortable talking too. "That was the hardest part of the attack Dad, seeing someone that I feel I bonded with gone" May the lord watch over this young man.
It was very tough and Alex"s fire team leader pulled Alex aside asking if he was ok? Alex stated he was but that this attack really freaked him out. His leader told him to keep it together and stay tight that he was needed. Alex did and was recommended for the Bronze Star Medal . Alex mentioned that the snipers attached to his team helped greatly. They supplied direction and range.
As many of you know, I have been away on a cruise and was not able to update the blog. I just spent an hour or so doing just that. It was all on K.I.A's the brigade has suffered. It was very difficult to do, so many. I can't say how much I feel for you all. I can only imagine what you feel. May all our soldier makes it home in whole as well as mind and spirit.
A Fathers Love
Larry Arnone
AKA Bluestardad ( I want to keep it that way)
San Francisco, Ca
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1 comment:
OH My friend,
what an incredibly hard conversation this must have been to have with your son. I knew the fight was ugly, more from what I hadn't heard then from what I had. These tiny VPBs must be insanely hard to defend. I appreciate his candor and his valor. Tell Alex we all send hugs and love and prayers to him and his fellow soldiers.
to nervous now to go back to bed...
Vickie
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